Piston ring



M 1943- v. F. ZAHODIAKIN I 2,319,097

PISTON RING Filed June 5, 1940 In A I 1! INVENTOR.

Mflfl WW ATTORNEY Patented May 11, 1943 UNITED/ STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,319,091 O.....LZZ;JI;.ZZZZZZ".ZZZZLli ing...

Divided and this application June 5, 1940, Serial No. 339,032

.5 Claims. (01; soc-44.)

This invention relates to improvements in packing or compression \rings 01 the type dapted to be used with pistons. The improved ring of this invention particularly lends itself to use as, a compression ring for the pistons 01 internal combustion engines but is not limited to this use. Itis capable of use, with the same advantages, as the packing ring for the pistons of pumps, steam engines, or any installation where packings of this general typeare employed.

This application is a division of'my' copending application, Serial No. 295,106, filed September 15, 1939.

It has been one of the objects. of the present inventor to provide a piston ring adapted to the above uses which will readily and easily conform to any irregularity in the contour of a cylinder, and in this respect is of great value for use in worn cylinders. In other words, the purpose has been to provide a ring which will'conform to -calized irregularities or distortlonsas well,as to general irregularities.

It has been a further object of the inventorto provide a piston ring which can be made in a simple manner by a few operations. More specifically, the ring may be made by punch press operation and the simple expedient of pressing the ring after stamping.

Specifically described, the present inventor has realized the value of distributing, around the circumference, the normal gap which must be provided in a piston ring to permit expansion and contraction and toward this -end has arranged the gap in minute divisions around the entire circumference of the ring. Now to fabricate a ring with these minute clearances has presented an extremely diflicult problem. v

The concept here has been to provide a ring made up of segments disposed in circumferential arrangement by means which provides, when installed, either radial pressure or circumferential pressure or both. In other words the segments 1 are connected by continuous means or otherwise to constitute a ring providing radial slits distributed around the ring. Thus the ring provides a series of independently flexible segments which may radially adjust themselves to local variations in the contour of the cylinder as well as togeneral irregularities or variations from a /true circle.

The ring thus formed is extremely flexible and may be readily compressed for insertion into the cylinder.- It will promptly adjust itself to the irregularities oi'the cylinder without mechanical fitting oi the character requiredwiththe rings of the past. a I

Other objects and certain advantages of the invention will be more fully apparent from a description of the drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top. plan view of the ring removed from the cylinder.

' Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken horizontally through the piston ring showing it in the'ring groove in a cylinder.

Figure 3 is a top view of one of the attachment clips for the ring segment.

Figure 4-is a top plan view of cheer the segments. Figure 5 is a side view of the segment shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side view of the ring supporting the segments of Figure 2.

The piston ring disclosed herein is made up of a multiplicity of segments H) which are assembled on a circular ring ll. Each segment is arcuate and when the ring is installed, the space between each segment isvery minute. A slot 12 cut into the inner periphery of each segment centrally thereof; terminates in a circular portion H centrally of the segment.

Individual segments are attached to the ring I l by means of a-clip I3 which is somewhat like a cotter pin. .The clips are formed frornspring steel as shown in Figure3 so that when compressed they exert an outward or spreading force.

The inner ends of each clip are spread angularly- A )inserted from the center of the ring I I outwardly through the slots I6 in the ring. They are pressed together and each segment is slipped down over ,the head end of each clip so that the head end is disposed in the slot or opening in the segment.

Now when this assembly is placed in the groove III of the piston I 9, the angular inner ends or fingers ii of the clips engage the inner wall of the groove and exert a direct outward radial force urging each segment against the cylinder. Since the segments are confined in the groove, they cannot become disengaged from the clips. The normal spreading action of the clips also tends to keep the parts assembled.

Having described my invention, I claim: 1. A piston ring comprising, a series of circumierentially arranged segments, a retaining ring disposed around the inside of the segments, and, clips extended through the ring and attached to the segments, said clips including spring fingers engageable with the bottom of the piston groove when installed.

2. A piston ring comprising, a series of seg ments, a ring disposed around the interior of the segments, cotter pins disposed through the ring bottom of theate segments, a corresponding number of spring I steel clips and a split ring having a corresponding number of slots, said segments assembled in entirely separated arrangement on the ring by means of the clips, said clips extending loosely and radially through the slots in the ring.

4. A piston ring comprising a plurality 0! armate segments, a retaining ring for supporting said segments in circumferential arrangement, said retaining ring having openings therein, one for each segment, said segments including slots disposed axially therein relative to said retaining ring, said slots. having enlarged inner ends and a fastening element for each segment having a head disposed within said enlarged end of the slot, and a shank engaged through the adjacent opening in the retaining ring whereby said fastening elements hold said segments in position on said retaining ring.

5.. As an article of manufacture, a plurality of ,circumierentially arranged sections, a circular member for supporting and maintaining said sections in circumferential arrangement, and independent pressure applying means for each section for supporting the section on the member and do: urging it directly radially, when installed,

independently of the circular member.

' vrc'ron F. ZAHODIAKIN. 

